Le monde des musicals

Version 1

Lido Lady (1926-12-Gaiety Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Gaiety Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 7 mois 3 semaines
Nombre : 261 représentations
Première Preview : Wednesday 01 December 1926
Première : Wednesday 01 December 1926
Dernière : Saturday 23 July 1927
Mise en scène : Jack Hulbert •
Chorégraphie : Jack Hulbert •
Producteur :
Avec : Bobby Comber (Rufus Blake), Phyllis Dare (Fay), Jack Hulbert (Harry Bassett), Billy Arlington (Bill Harker), Cicely Courtneidge (Peggy Bassett), Harold French (Spencer Weldon), Henry de Bray (Luis Valeze).
Presse : "Times" a accueilli l’œuvre comme une «comédie musicale autochtone» humoristique, quelque chose qui n’avait pas été vu depuis un certain temps.
"Stage" a dit que les paroles étaient banales, que le livret n’était pas particulièrement intéressant et que la musique était familière.

Version 2

Nightingale (The) (Version Russell) (1947-07-Princes Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Shaftesbury Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée :
Nombre :
Première Preview : Tuesday 15 July 1947
Première : Tuesday 15 July 1947
Dernière : Inconnu
Mise en scène : Jack Hulbert •
Chorégraphie : Anthony Burke •
Producteur :
Avec : John Westbrook (Emperor), Fabia Drake (Dowager Empress), Julia Bretton (Princess Hana Koe), Mimi Benzell (Pearl o ’ the Moon - The Nightingale), Rosaline Haddon, Richard Walter, Gavin Gordon, Eve Lister

Version 3

Sweet Yesterday (1945-06-Adelphi Theatre-London)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Adelphi Theatre (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 5 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 196 représentations
Première Preview : Thursday 21 June 1945
Première : Thursday 21 June 1945
Dernière : Saturday 08 December 1945
Mise en scène : Jack Hulbert •
Chorégraphie : Frank Staff • Cleo Nordi •
Producteur :
Avec : Reginald Tate (Sir John Manders), Anne Ziegler (Louise Varennes), Doris Hare (Madame Sans-Gene), Webster Booth (Captain Labouchere), Mark Daly (Cabouchon)
Commentaires : This began life as a 1941 radio play as a war propaganda exercise, and was expanded into a musical to showcase the enormously popular husband and wife singing team, Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth. It was an unhappy show from the start of its pre-London tour in Edinburgh. The experienced director Esmé Church was new to musicals, whilst the choreographer, Frank Staff was expert at ballet but not at dances for actor-singers. After a series of complaints from the stars, Jack Hulbert was brought in as replacement director, and Cleo Nordi was added to the choreography team. Then Hugh Morton, the original Sir John, was replaced with Reginald Tate, causing Ziegler and Booth to announce they were walking out in protest. However, the producer Lee Ephraim, told them this would be a breach of contract and he would be prepared to sue. In this really unhappy atmosphere the show opened in London to mixed notices. However, the star names meant the show was extremely successful at the box office and ran six months up to December, when the Adelphi was pre-booked for the pantomime season. Lee Ephraim wanted to arrange a transfer to another theatre, but this required the agreement of Anne Ziegler and Webster Booth. They did not agree, and took
the opportunity to leave the show. Without its stars there was no realistic prospect of it continuing.